PHOTOS: Cyclone Phailin slams India’s east coast

October 12, 2013

An Indian villager braving strong winds and rain walk to a safer place, in village Podampeta, in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Strong winds and heavy rains pounded India's eastern coastline Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of people took shelter from a massive, powerful Cyclone Phailin expected to reach land in a few hours. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( APTOPIX India Cyclone )

Evacuated residents look out from a cyclone shelter in heavy winds and rain in Badabandha village near Gopalpur, about 190 kilometers south from eastern city Bhubaneswar on October 12, 2013. Nearly half a million people have been evacuated from India's impoverished east coast ahead of a massive cyclone expected to make landfall on October 12 evening, disaster officials said. ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images ( 523725851 )

Indian government officials stand near a stack of relief good to be distributed to evacuated people following a cyclone warning in Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people living along India's eastern coastline were taking shelter Saturday from a massive, powerful cyclone Phailin that was set to reach land packing destructive winds and heavy rains. (AP Photo/Bikas Das) ( India Cyclone )

Evacuated Indian villagers watch strong winds and rain as they eat food in a temporary cyclone shelter in Chatrapur , in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Strong winds and heavy rains pounded India's eastern coastline Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of people took shelter from a massive, powerful Cyclone Phailin expected to reach land in a few hours. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( India Cyclone )

Indian people run for shelter following a cyclone warning at the Bay of Bengal coast in Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people living along India's eastern coastline were taking shelter Saturday from a massive, powerful cyclone Phailin that was set to reach land packing destructive winds and heavy rains. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( India Cyclone )

Indian fishermen gesture as they secure their boats along the shore at Donkuru village, in the Srikakulam district on October 12, 2013. Nearly half a million people have been evacuated from India's impoverished east coast ahead of a massive cyclone expected to make landfall on October 12 evening, disaster officials said. MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images ( 523725499 )

Indian police force members and volunteers clear branches from the village road due to heavy cyclonic wind with rain in Badabandha Village near Gopalpur, about 195 kilometers south from eastern city Bhubaneswar on October 12, 2013. Nearly half a million people have been evacuated from India's impoverished east coast ahead of a massive cyclone expected to make landfall on October 12 evening, disaster officials said. ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images ( 523725989 )

Indian villagers braving strong winds and rain reach for a cyclone center, in village Podampeta, in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Strong winds and heavy rains pounded India's eastern coastline Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of people took shelter from a massive, powerful Cyclone Phailin expected to reach land in a few hours. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( APTOPIX India Cyclone )

An Indian villager sits in an empty courtyard as others evacuated the Donkuru village in Srikakulam district on October 12, 2013. India evacuated nearly half a million people as massive cyclone Phailin closed in on the impoverished east coast, with winds already uprooting trees and tearing into the flimsy homes. MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images ( 523727988 )

An Indian resident carries her child as she leaves her home in Donkuru village in Srikakulam district on October 12, 2013. India evacuated nearly half a million people as massive cyclone Phailin closed in on the impoverished east coast, with winds already uprooting trees and tearing into the flimsy homes. MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images ( 523727733 )

Evacuated Indian villagers get down from a truck at a relief camp as it rains near Berhampur, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people living along India's eastern coastline were taking shelter Saturday from a massive, powerful cyclone Phailin that was set to reach land packing destructive winds and heavy rains. (AP Photo/Bikas Das) ( India Cyclone )

An Indian couple drives towards a cyclone center, in village Podampeta, in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Strong winds and heavy rains pounded India's eastern coastline Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of people took shelter from a massive, powerful Cyclone Phailin expected to reach land in a few hours. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( India Cyclone )

A younh Indian boy reaches a relief camp after being evacuated as it rains near Berhampur, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people living along India's eastern coastline were taking shelter Saturday from a massive, powerful cyclone Phailin that was set to reach land packing destructive winds and heavy rains. (AP Photo/Bikas Das) ( India Cyclone )

Evacuated Indian villagers eat food in a temporary cyclone shelter in Chatrapur , in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Strong winds and heavy rains pounded India's eastern coastline Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of people took shelter from a massive, powerful Cyclone Phailin expected to reach land in a few hours. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( APTOPIX India Cyclone )

Indian villagers take shelter under a structure as they flee the coastal Donkuru village in Srikakulam district on October 12, 2013. India evacuated nearly half a million people as massive cyclone Phailin closed in on the impoverished east coast, with winds already uprooting trees and tearing into the flimsy homes. MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images ( 523727909 )

Indian volunteers distribute relief food to cyclone evacuated people in a relief camp at Chatrapur, about 180 kilometers south of eastern city Bhubaneswar on October 12, 2013. Nearly half a million people have been evacuated from India's impoverished east coast ahead of a massive cyclone expected to make landfall on October 12 evening, disaster officials said. ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images ( 523726304 )

Evacuated Indian villagers take refuge in a temporary cyclone shelter in Chatrapur , in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Strong winds and heavy rains pounded India's eastern coastline Saturday, as hundreds of thousands of people took shelter from a massive, powerful Cyclone Phailin expected to reach land in a few hours. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( India Cyclone )

Indian villagers try to cover themselves from heavy rainfall and strong winds as they ride a pickup truck in Srikakulam district on October 12, 2013. India evacuated nearly half a million people as massive cyclone Phailin closed in on the impoverished east coast, with winds already uprooting trees and tearing into the flimsy homes. MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images ( 523727970 )

An Indian rickshaw man bikes through heavy rain in Berhampur, about 180 kilometres south from eastern city Bhubaneswar on October 12, 2013. Nearly half a million people have been evacuated from India's impoverished east coast ahead of a massive cyclone expected to make landfall on October 12 evening, disaster officials said. ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images ( 523728995 )

Motorcyclist drives past fallen trees during heavy rain and winds near Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the eastern Indian city Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of people living along India's eastern coastline were taking shelter Saturday from a massive, powerful cyclone Phailin that was set to reach land packing destructive winds and heavy rains. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) ( India Cyclone )

Indian fishermen salvage their belongings as they evacuate their homes in Donkuru village in Srikakulam district on October 12, 2013.Nearly half a million people have been evacuated from India's impoverished east coast ahead of a massive cyclone expected to make landfall on October 12 evening, disaster officials said. MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images ( 523727964 )

Indian evacuees travel in an auto rickshaw as they leave their village towards a safe place through heavy wind and rain in Sanabandha Village near Gopalpur, about 195 south from eastern city Bhubaneswar on October 12, 2013. Nearly half a million people have been evacuated from India's impoverished east coast ahead of a massive cyclone expected to make landfall on October 12 evening, disaster officials said. ASIT KUMAR/AFP/Getty Images ( 523729663 )

This October 12, 2013 satellite image obtained from the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) shows Tropical Cyclone Phailin over the Bay of Bengal. India evacuated half a million people as massive Cyclone Phailin closed in on the impoverished east coast Saturday, with winds already uprooting trees and tearing into flimsy homes. The storm packed gusts of up to 240 kilometres per hour (150 miles per hour) as it churned over the Bay of Bengal, making it potentially the most powerful cyclone to hit the area since 1999, when more than 8,000 died, the Indian weather office said. NRL-/AFP/Getty Images ( 523728718 )

Indian youth stand on the shore as high tidal waves hit the coastline in Visakhapatnam on October 12, 2013. Tens of thousands of terrified villagers braced for the arrival of a massive cyclone bearing down on India's east coast on October 12, packing winds of up 220 kilometres an hour (140 mph). MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images ( 523725361 )